The Cathedral Heritage Gala’s “Art and Soul” an annual fundraiser for the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist was held at the Jepson Center for the Arts on Nov. 24.

Waiting inside the majestic Jepson are my hosts for the night, metal casting experts Ted and Catherine Dunn Kostilnik — a local Irish Catholic girl, born on St. Patrick’s Day who is looking ravishing in a cobalt blue Tadashi Shoji designer dress.

Catherine knows everyone here. When I say, everyone, I mean Priest Mariusz Fuks and Bishop Gregory Hartmayer who are easily coaxed into posing for what will be a blur of pictures as the first level of the museum starts to fill up.

After putting my camera bag down, I notice an extremely attractive guy snacking on Joe’s Homemade Crostini. Meet 29-year-old Capt. Blake Gillman, a Los Angeles native stationed here with the Army JAG Corp and loving the downtown life of Savannah.

Of course I feel it is my responsibility to introduce the 6-foot-4-inch former Boy Scout around and succeed in my efforts when he asks, “Is that the Ganem family that owns the package shop on Habersham? I love that place. Did you know that they have been in business for 73 years?”

Well yes it is and yes I do know them very well! Leaving him with three chatty female Ganem’s, I get waved over to AMBUC’s president Kevin Sheehan. I love a man who loves having his picture taken, and this Irishman is good at it.

Kevin wants a picture with his brother Brendan, who is attentively talking with car dealerships guru O.C. Welch. While the gentlemen graciously pose for a few photos, Kevin shares, “Did you know we raised $61,000 from Bowl-a-palooza?” Congrats my friend on your passionate dedication and much deserved success!

Back over at the bar, George Towns is waiting for two cabernets, Gala Chair Dr. Gretchen Reese slows down to shake my hand and Nino Aliotta leans over for a hug and I get a quick pic of Father Jerry Schreck before he heads up to the auction.

Nino Aliotta cheerfully introduces me his radiant wife, Brandy. Wearing a red off-the-shoulder dress and sparkly Cinderella shoes, I chat with the OB-GYN nurse practitioner about how awesome her husband is. My heartfelt statement to her is this, “You picked good — what a great guy!”

Another fantastic guy is the world famous James E. Hogan. Even though I am loving his bowtie and black watch plaid dinner jacket, it is his dear friend of 30 years that I love even more. Meet Annie Rockwell, a 4-foot-11-inch local Realtor who exudes my kind of internal happiness.

This has got to be one of the nicest, closest set of friends I have met in Savannah. They both live on Taylor Street, have a birthday one day apart and host spontaneous last-minute dinners that I am going to make attempts for invites or succeed in crashing.

With promises to catch up with James when he returns from Massachusetts in December, I head up the marble white steps and catch three ladies eyeing a massive chocolate fountain.

Lovely Glenda Ganem, lively Diane Lovat and Dr. Kim Kuebler pause when I ask them to tell me something fun and printable. My first response is from Dr. Kim. “I am a clogger. I love it — I have clogged for 30 years,” shares the vivacious doctor.

With the live auction about to start, I and my mini plate of chocolate-covered snacks grab a Diet Coke from Debra Graham, a Air Force retiree who works with the 175th Ranger Battalion Enhanced Care Clinic. Tall and elegant, she poses alongside beautiful Jessica Key and Matt Hamilton for a perfect pic before I head into the live auction.

Before walking in, I see former Lands End model Carol Ray with her husband Ray, a retired Savannah-Chatham police officer with mother and daughter beauties Brittany Dykes and Karen Gelow. I snap yet another perfect photo of Savannah’s finest before heading over to Mark Ellis before he bids on Savannah Film Festival tickets.

There are some serious fashionistas here and three that stand out are Gina Iocovozzi, Vicki Monteith and Loretta Lomanick. Gina is always gorgeous, Vicki has on this amazing black hat and Loretta is dazzling in shiny silver and is glowing, literally, as she air kisses every person in this room!

With the night winding down, I gaze at “Spanish Sojourns: Robert Henri and the Spirit of Spain,” grab a raspberry puff pastry and give my thanks to Catherine and Ted for hosting me at yet another glorious elegant event in the best city in the South!

If you haven’t attended a Cathedral Heritage Gala add it to your bucket list. Don’t miss out on one of Savannah’s best cultural experiences!

Invite Bunny to your gathering, gala or other social event. Contact Bunny at 912-844-1122 or email her at bunnyware@aol.com.

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